NDP MLAs rip Liberals for cancelling B.C. legislative session

If Premier Gordon Campbell won't do the people's business, B.C.'s New Democratic PartyMLA's say they will.

The NDP caucus gathered at the legislature in Victoria Monday, the dayscheduled to be the first of the fall session before Campbell cancelled thesitting.

And as the they posed for the cameras outside the legislative chambers, party leader Carole James said the fact they were there and the Liberalswere not said a lot about Campbell and the Liberal government.

"He thinks he can hide, but he can't," James said. " We as the opposition and the members of B.C. are going to hold him accountable."

One of the first orders of business should have been a new Lobbyists Registration Act, James said, referring to a recent allegation that two-time B.C. Liberal campaign manager Patrick Kinsella was illegally working as a lobbyist without registering.

With no fall sitting, there was no chance for the Opposition question the government about the allegation, attorney general critic Leonard Krog said.

"The fact is this is a gutless approach, this is an arrogant approach," Krog said.

Liberal House leader Mike de Jong said his party believes there's more important work for the MLA's to doout in the communities.

The next sitting of the legislature is scheduled for February, when the Liberals willintroduce their final budget before the May 2009 election.